March 28, 2024

NFL’s top QBs highlight divisional round of playoffs

In this quarterback-driven league, nothing could be better than teams driven by their QBs meeting in the playoffs.

So next weekend can’t come soon enough: Denver’s Peyton Manning vs. the man who replaced him in Indianapolis, Andrew Luck.

Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, who twice has defeated the Patriots and Tom Brady, heading to New England.

Aaron Rodgers against Tony Romo in Lambeau Field — just as enticing.

Even Carolina’s Cam Newton against another new-wave QB, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who merely won a Super Bowl last February.

The divisional round opens next Saturday with AFC top seed New England (12-4) hosting Baltimore (11-6), which eliminated Pittsburgh 30-17.

That will be followed by defending Super Bowl champion Seattle (12-4), the NFC West champion, against Carolina (8-8-1), which beat Arizona 27-16.

NFC North champ Green Bay (12-4) is home for Dallas in the early game next Sunday. It’s the first postseason visit to Lambeau Field for the Cowboys since the 1967 Ice Bowl. Dallas beat Detroit 24-20 in the wild-card round.

The final division-round contest next Sunday has Indianapolis (12-5) at Denver (12-4). Indy disposed of Cincinnati 26-10 in a wild-card game.

Colts at Broncos

Andrew Luck threw for 376 yards and one touchdown, Daniel “Boom” Herron ran for another score, and Indianapolis dominated the second half to beat Cincinnati on Sunday.

The Colts made a fair share of mistakes, but nothing like the Bengals (10-6-1), who became the first team in NFL history to lose four consecutive opening-round playoff games.

Ravens at Patriots

Yes, New England was 7-0 at home in games with any meaning. But if there’s one team that has shown no fear of Foxborough, it’s Baltimore.

The Ravens knocked off the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in the 2009 and 2012 playoffs; Baltimore won the Super Bowl after the latter victory.

Brady, of course, owns three Super Bowl rings and two more AFC titles. In recent years, though, Flacco has been just as successful in the playoffs and has a 10-4 record, 7-4 on the road.

Cowboys at

Packers

A longstanding rivalry — they have met six times in the playoffs, with Dallas having four wins — will be renewed. Standing in for Bart Starr or Brett Favre will be Rodgers, who already owns a Super Bowl ring.

In place of Don Meredith or Troy Aikman will be Romo, whose late touchdown pass lifted Dallas over Detroit in the wild-card round on Sunday.

Green Bay was 8-0 at home in 2014. Dallas (13-4) won all eight of its road games.

Panthers at

Seahawks

Just the second team with a losing record to win a division title, the Panthers took their fifth straight game by ending Arizona’s season Saturday. It was Carolina’s first playoff win in nine years.

The defense held the Cardinals (11-6) and third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley to 78 yards, the fewest in NFL playoff history. But facing Wilson is a far tougher challenge, to say the least.